Jason has a good post pointing some of the main issues that may arise when thinking of going further with the product development.
The argument leaves from the technical versus strategy guys views on business but fact is that if you, as a business guy, are not capable of understanding the technical issues and challenges from the product development department and thereof not reach a strategy consesus, one of you has to leave.
Articles in category Strategy
So you have a product or a service and you're thinking it might be a good fit with Google, Microsoft, Adobe or SAP. Here are some guidelines for making a play.
I must say that I was a bit suprised by it - apparently it's about the traction not about the biz model, kinda like delicious' theme investment.
Now, Fred is a smart guy and has seen lots of things but delicious was solving a problem. I can't seem to understand what problem "microblogging" is solving as of yet, especially given that there is a fair number of substitute products. The upside, which I bet was one of the triggers of the investment, is that there's a fairly large ecosystem built around twitter, and Ev's also the kind of guy who can gather a significant community around his product. At least he did it with Blogger.
So I guess the next level challenge is growing that ecosystem and make it attractive for a strategic investor. Quite difficult but not impossible. The chemistry seems right.
Now, Fred is a smart guy and has seen lots of things but delicious was solving a problem. I can't seem to understand what problem "microblogging" is solving as of yet, especially given that there is a fair number of substitute products. The upside, which I bet was one of the triggers of the investment, is that there's a fairly large ecosystem built around twitter, and Ev's also the kind of guy who can gather a significant community around his product. At least he did it with Blogger.
So I guess the next level challenge is growing that ecosystem and make it attractive for a strategic investor. Quite difficult but not impossible. The chemistry seems right.
Reversed product placement that is - Fox decided to launch some of the brands from the newly launched The Simpsons movie into the real world, as a 7-Eleven product offering. This move includes (some of the) the entire rebranding of the 7 Eleven stores into Kwik-E Mart.
...in Time magazine, I haven't seen too many interviews with him actually. We're not focused on the exit, be it a strategic investor or an IPO, we're just trying to build a useful product, with more international exposure. We call it a social utility.
In business it's not about you, it's about them, the customers. Though it is not always applicable when it comes to blogs - I read a blog because I am interested what its author has to say about a certain issue or perspective.
There is a very, very thin dividing line between survival and failure. You've just got to fight and fight and fight and fight to survive.
from a last year interview with Richard Branson
from a last year interview with Richard Branson
